Huge Rift In MI Camp: Indian Players Root For Rohit As Captain, Overseas Stars Back Hardik
Hardik Pandya and Rohit Sharma [X.com]
Mumbai Indians (MI), captained by Hardik Pandya, suffered a premature exit from the IPL 2024 season, marking the first team elimination. Their final showdown will unfold against Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) at the Wankhede Stadium.
Reports from Dainik Jagran indicate a stark divide among the players, with Indian team members rallying behind former captain Rohit Sharma, while overseas players firmly support current captain Hardik Pandya.
With only one match remaining, Mumbai Indians are determined to salvage their season by avoiding a bottom-place finish on the points table. However, amidst this crucial match preparation, internal discord looms large.
The decision to make Hardik captain instead of Rohit caused a stir. And now, there's talk of a feud between the two. Some say the Indian guys want Rohit back, while the foreigners are sticking with Hardik.
Tim David on MI skipper Hardik Pandya
"Hardik was the glue that held us together and gave us a chance to play with freedom at the back end," he said. "Hardik has been phenomenal in the way he has been playing for the team," he added.
Criticism has also been directed towards Hardik's leadership style, notably by former South Africa captain AB de Villiers, who suggested that his assertive approach might clash with established players like Rohit, Suryakumar Yadav, and Jasprit Bumrah.
On top of all this drama, both star players aren't doing great on the field. Hardik's batting has been off, while Rohit has struggled to maintain his usual standards throughout the tournament.
If they can't patch things up, big changes might be on the horizon for Mumbai Indians. As the IPL 2024 about to end, they're not just fighting on the field; they're also trying to keep their team together.